PDF pages/forms on the AFRMA site requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.
If you don’t have it, click HERE

This article is from the Summer 2000AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales news-magazine.

A House for your Mouse (or rat) (Cages)

By Nichole Royer

A House For Your Mouse (or rat) (Cages) - Part 2

This issue we will cover Plastic Carriers, Tube Systems, and Lab Cages.

Note:The number of animals appropriate to each cage will vary greatly by the age/sex/size/personality of the specific animals kept, and often a fewer number than indicated would be ideal.
The rule of thumb with cages is “the bigger, the better.” Please use good judgment. The opinions expressed are
of the author, and may differ from those of other fanciers.

Plastic carriers do not come in the wide range of sizes that glass
aquariums do; however, they are frequently used as housing, particularly for
mice. Some fanciers replace the plastic lid with a homemade one to improve air
flow and prevent animals from chewing out. I will only be talking about the larger
two sizes of carriers as all others are too small to be considered permanent
housing.

Pros: Light weight, animals are easily visible, easily cleaned/disinfected,
comes with lid, does not break as easily as glass, lids come
in a variety of colors, inexpensive and very easily found in pet stores.

Cons: Plastic scratches/becomes brittle over time
particularly when exposed to sunlight, small, lid does not allow much ventilation,
can be hot and stuffy, rats and mice can chew plastic.

Large Plastic Carriers

This large carrier is being used for Dwarf Hamsters. Photo by Karen Robbins.

Price: $8–$14

Size: approx. 14¼″ x 8½″ x 8¼″T

No. of Animals:Mice: lone male, male and female for breeding, female and babies.Rats: Carrier only. One animal for relatively short trips.

Comments: Do not pick up using handles on lid (bottom WILL fall off).
It can be difficult to attach a water bottle. Try punching out round hole in lid, put
several rubber bands around 8 oz. water bottle or one of the rings used in the
tube system to connect tubes together, set water bottle in hole and adjust so that
rubber bands/ring hold it at appropriate level.

Jumbo Plastic Carriers

This jumbo carrier makes a nice house for mice. Photo by Craig Robbins.

Tube systems (Habitrails, SAM, Critter Trail One, etc.) are a very
interesting and colorful way to house your mice and hamsters. Designed to be
very appealing to us, the owners, mice and hamsters seem to find these cages
adequate in meeting their needs. These cages are designed to emulate an
underground environment and are particularly nice for children and schools.
Because these cages can be added to indefinitely, I am going to mention just the
standard large setup.

Cons: Very difficult to clean and disinfect, some
animals can figure out how to escape, male mouse odor will permeate the plastic
pan bottoms, VERY expensive, some animals chew on plastic, limited air
exchange, have to be totally dismantled to properly clean tubes, not
recommended if you have more than one or two animals due to this difficulty.

SAM, Habitrail, Hagen, Super Pet

Price: Basic starter setup $5–$50. Can be purchased used at garage sales and on e-bay.

No. of Animals:Mice: 3–5 depending on their size, and the attachments you have.Rats: Not recommended. Tubes are way too small for even young rats.Hamsters: Up to 4 Dwarf; 1 Syrian.

Comments: Look for these at yard sales. Designed for “people
appeal” and very expensive. Some mice raised in a tank environment find tube
systems overwhelming. Some systems are combining the traditional plastic setup
with wire to create a more open and ventilated system.

This is a modular cube system cage. It is not recommended to house mice. We just used it for one display.
Photo by Craig Robbins.

Lab cages are rarely seen in the pet industry; however, for the fancier
with a very large collection of critters, they are worth the investment. They are
very good for moms with young litters. They also make great carriers, particularly
for trips lasting several days.

Lab cages are essentially a plastic dishpan with a fitted wire lid. The lid contains
an area for food and a section for a water bottle. The animals can be fed and
watered without ever opening their cages.

They come in many sizes, some which are the equivalent of 10 and 15 gallon
aquariums, though only about half as tall. The bottom is made of rigid heat-
resistant, break-resistant plastic (laboratories put them through high heat
sterilizers) and the lids are stainless steel. These cages make it possible to
humanely care for a large number of animals; however, some people find them
somewhat small and sterile looking.

Pros: Feeding/watering can be done without opening
cage, very lightweight, easily emptied, cleaned, and sterilized, low profile so
many can be housed in single shelving unit, shavings do not spill out unless
animals are extremely exuberant, animals can be easily seen through clear
bottoms, plenty of ventilation.

Small and large sizes of mouse lab cages. Photo by Mickey Maeckelbergh.

Small Mouse Lab Cage

Price: differs by company but often $20 or more.

Size: approx. 10½″ x 8″ x 6″T

No. of Animals:Mice: Lone male or female with babies.

Medium Mouse Lab Cage

Price: differs by company but often $25 or more.

Size: approx. 13½″ x 9″ x 6″T or 12″ x 8″ x 6″T

No. of Animals:Mice: Female with babies or 2–3 mice

Large Mouse Lab Cage

Price: differs by company but often $30 or more.

Size: approx. 15″ x 13″ x 6¾″T or 18¾″ x 10¼″ x 6¼″T

No. of Animals:Mice: 4–6 mice

Small Rat Lab Cage

Price: differs by company but often $30 or more.

Size: approx. 18¾″ x 10¼″ x 8¼″T

No. of Animals:Rats: Lone male, female with young
babies. Good temporary housing for young animals and very good as a hospital
cage or a home for an older or injured rat. Can also be used as a transport cage.

This mom-rat just had babies in this rat lab cage. Photo by Karen Robbins.

Large Rat Lab Cage

Price: differs by company but often $40 or more.

Size: approx. 20″ x 16″ x 8¼″T

No. of Animals:Rats: 2–3 young males, 2–4 young females, male
and female for breeding, female with litter. Good temporary housing for a litter before they go to new homes.

Comments: These can sometimes be found on e-bay at good prices.
Used lab cages can be a great buy if they are in good shape.